Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-10-06
BACK TO CLAVERING.


detective force is second 10 none. This
'obbery at Meath Castle had baftled
them up to the present time. Mr.. Bar
ton, in whose hands the case had Teen
placed, was unfortunate in having from
the first suspected Mrs. Grey; he had
felt SO sure that she was guilty that he
had ceased TO inquire in any other di-
rection. 1t seemed to him as clear as
the sun at MONDAY that Mrs. Grey had
been employed by a gang of thieves.
The only thing that had gone wrong
in the whole plot had been the keeping
back of the portrait. Doubtless the
prisoner had been struck W it'll the mag
niticence of the diamonds and kept
them to sell, meaning to have that por-
ton the spoil herself.
II she had destroyed the por raft and
thrown away the gold, she might have
kept the Almonds securely enough.
He considered it providential circum-
stance that she had not done so; GER
tainlv the portrait set in diamonds had
been the means of tracing the thief. He
set to work with redoubled energy TO
try to discover with which Of the many
gangs she was associated,
There was nothing for it but to return
in disguise to { avcring and begin again
on the spot.
One of his finest qualifications for the
Office he had was the facility with which
no disguised himself He presented
himself Mt the Clavering arms as a
dealer in cattle. He waited to purchase
for foreign markets. At first he was
most wary and cautious; he asked per
mission to smoke his pipe in the travel
ers' room permission was freely given.
Then he heard much conversation about
the Duke and Duchess of Meath; he
never seemed to give any attention to
it. The robbery, in all its supposed
details, was discussed before him. He
heard much of his own skill. how he
had detected the thief at once, and he
made no comment. But one evening
new element was introduced into the
conversation.
Two young farmers were speaking OF
horses, and of men who were judges Of
horses.
IL have never heard" said one, of
man who could give better judgment
of a horse than that young London
lCllOW lOu udu uOW HClC,
HE was a Judge of many things"
was the slow reply. al do not care for
fine young London men myself. y
"He was here for some time" added
another.
Looking after farm, was he mott
asked third.
$50 he said" replied the landlord
Il always had my suspicious Of him, :"
said little man who had listened in
silence He did not look like an honest
man."
"He was a handsome man." said an
other.
Handsome is as handsome does. "
said the landlord, solemnly "He was
handsome after London kind of fash
ion the girls round here thought enough
of him."
ale only cared for one, and that was
the pretty maid at the Castle " said an
other. ~ wonder If he will ever come
back here againP"
"My impression is that he will not, y"
said the landlord.
Then the cattle dealer, Mr.. Carter,
raised his head and asked:
"Of whom are you speaking. that
opinions seem to differ so greatlyp"
The landlord turned to him deferen-
tally.
"a young fellow-a fine fellow must
admit who was staying here last Au
gust. BY the way, he was here at the
time of the robbery; he left, remember,
the same night"
These words, which furnished so inn
portant clue, were most unconsciously
most carelessly uttered; but they struck
him now, and be sat looking with wide
open eyes. The words had smitten him.
What If after all there has been
some horrible mistake" he said to him.
self: then he remembered the diamonds
found in the box. My heart q 'aked
for a moment" he said; then in an in
slant, another idea flashed across HIM.
II this young fellow left on the night OF
the robbery, it seems most feasible to
imagine that he had something TO do
with it. Perhaps this is the long
looked for clew."
They went on talking about the Lon
don gentleman. One related how often
he had seen him with the pretty lassie
from the CASTLE" Another told how
Michael Hands had been ready to
strangle him. A third added that any
lassie must be mad who ould prefer a
man like Ncsbitt to Michael Pands.
Then Mr.. Carter spoke again.
what name did you sayp" he asked.
'Ncsbitt," was the answer. "Charlie
Nesbitt."
He thought few minutes, but the
name was unknown to him, quite un-
known. Still, that was of very little
Importance; one man may have hun